2 min read • August 16, 2023
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Winning a fantasy football championship hinges on team balance. Today, we examine two wide receivers projected to have noteworthy seasons.
Amari Cooper, a wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns, boasts a best ball ADP of 37.3, while Calvin Ridley, a wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars, holds an ADP of 41.3, as reported by FantasyPros. These former Alabama Crimson Tide receivers have proven themselves in the NFL with productive careers. However, Ridley was absent from last season due to violating the NFL's gambling policy, while Cooper underwent core muscle surgery during the offseason.
According to the Pro Football Docs, Cooper's core muscle surgery will aid his performance, but he has missed crucial time during OTAs and minicamp with Deshaun Watson, who endured one of the worst seasons of his professional career. Ridley faces a higher likelihood of reacclimation injuries, such as soft tissue strains, but at 28 years old, his conditioning should not be a concern. Hopefully, he avoids any training camp absences to enhance his chemistry with Trevor Lawrence.
Cooper is entering his second year with the Browns alongside Watson. In his previous season, he recorded impressive stats with 78 catches for 1,160 yards and a career-best nine touchdowns. Despite the addition of former New York Jets receiver Elijah Moore, Cooper is expected to retain his role as the team's primary receiving option. He will likely continue as the team's X wide receiver, a position Watson frequently targets, while Moore primarily operates from the slot. Cooper's surgery is not expected to hinder his performance since he has already played a season with Watson.
Ridley, who served a season-long suspension with the Atlanta Falcons, was traded to the Jaguars at the trade deadline. However, he only played in five games during the 2021-22 NFL season due to injury. In the previous season (2020-21), Ridley achieved a career-high with 90 receptions for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns. The Jaguars are hopeful that Lawrence's presence will help Ridley regain his previous form and establish himself as the team's true No. 1 wide receiver.
In Jacksonville, Ridley will face more competition for targets compared to Cooper. Evan Engram, Christian Kirk, and Zay Jones are all vying for targets on the Jaguars. On the other hand, in Cleveland, Cooper holds the top target position, while Moore and David Njoku are competing for the second-most targets. Despite the potential for Ridley to become a primary target, he is joining a team that made the playoffs last year with a strong receiving corps.
This upcoming season will determine whether Ridley can solidify himself as the Jaguars' No. 1 wide receiver.
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